James reflects on his journey from worried father to advocate for autism appreciation, crediting his quintuple bypass surgery at 35 as a turning point in how he viewed his son Lucas's autism. Rather than focusing on what needed to be "fixed," James began appreciating Lucas's unique perspective and finding joy in moments others might misinterpret as sad.

• The podcast grew from James's frustration with not being able to share funny stories about Lucas without receiving sympathy
• James explains the difference between autism awareness, acceptance, and his preferred term: appreciation
• Shares the memorable "pretzel story" that triggered the blog
• Reflects on writing about Lucas from age 5 to 14 and watching him grow through the blog
• Talks about his upcoming book "Hi World I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation"
• Expresses gratitude for the supportive community that has made him feel less alone

Visit hipodondad.com for new podcast episodes every Friday and read new blog posts every Monday and Wednesday. Follow on Instagram and Facebook @HiJamesGuttman for more updates.

Preorder James Guttman’s new book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation”

Follow Us On Facebook and Follow James Guttman on Instagram.

Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

From being unable to say the word "autism" aloud to embracing the term "severe autism," James Gutman shares his transformative seven-year journey with his son Lucas in this heartfelt episode. He recalls a pivotal moment when someone referred to his non-verbal son's condition as "the real autism," triggering both offense and reflection about how we label and understand neurodiversity.

James takes us through his evolution as a father and writer, revealing how his blog "Hi Blog, I'm Dad" (launched in 2017) chronicles their journey from fear to appreciation. He describes the early days of struggling to explain his son's silence to strangers, followed by years of growth that changed his perspective entirely. Rather than defending against pity or judgment, James now focuses on celebrating Lucas's unique way of experiencing the world—from the gentle finger games he plays with his sister to the fascinating way he studies his own hand in the sunlight.

The episode offers rare insight into parenting a child with severe autism, balancing the clinical realities with moments of pure joy. James reflects on how Lucas brings him happiness even during challenging moments, and how his son's unfiltered emotions have taught him to live more authentically. With his book "Hi World I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation" launching soon, James invites listeners to understand that while labels serve their purpose, they never tell the complete story. Pre-order his book now on Amazon to join him on this continuing journey of discovery and appreciation.

Preorder James Guttman’s new book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation”

Follow Us On Facebook and Follow James Guttman on Instagram.

Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.

James Gutman explores the evolution from autism awareness to acceptance to appreciation as a father raising his nonverbal son, Lucas. He shares personal stories about appreciating his son's unique perspective on life, including the refreshing honesty that comes with autism even during challenging moments.

• The differences between autism awareness, acceptance, and appreciation from both a parent's and society's perspective
• How public understanding of autism has improved significantly since 2011
• The refreshing honesty and authenticity that comes with autism, even during mischievous moments
• Why James appreciates rather than wants to "cure" his son's autism
• Personal stories about Lucas knowingly breaking the rules while maintaining direct eye contact
• The journey of learning to appreciate autism as an integral part of who his son is

James's new book "Hi World, I'm Dad: How Fathers Can Journey from Autism Awareness to Acceptance to Appreciation" will be available June 19th. Pre-order now on Amazon, and follow James on social media at @HiJamesGutman or read his blog at hiblogimdad.com for more stories and updates.

Preorder James Guttman’s new book – “Hi World, I’m Dad: How Fathers Can Journey to Autism Awareness, Acceptance, and Appreciation”

Follow Us On Facebook and Follow James Guttman on Instagram.

Also, be sure to read the blog that started it all - Hi Blog! I'm Dad.